Writers' Rumpus

Writers and illustrators wild about kidlit!

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A Conversation with Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Author of TORCH: a YA Novel about Czechoslovakia, Resistance, and Hope

Guest Post by Terry Farish “Hope is a feeling that life and work have meaning. You either have it or you don’t, regardless of the state of the world that surrounds you.”    a quote from Václav Havel Havel speaks to a crowd in Prague during the velvet revolution in 1989Photograph: Peter Turnley/Corbis: The Guardian, Dec 18, 2011 – Vaclav Havel: a life in pictures Lyn Miller-Lachmann’s YA novel…

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I have a suggestion…regarding Character Arcs.

A friend of mine, who also happens to be a writer, gave me a book called CREATING CHARACTER ARCS, The Masterful Author’s Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development, by K.M. Weiland, PenForASword Publishing, 2016. (Thank you Tina Oppici). Tina has been suggesting I read it for over two years. She finally handed me a copy and I’m glad she did. I suggest you read it, too.…

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THE LOUD LIBRARIAN: Written by Jenna Beatrice and Illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones

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HONORING JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!

by Danna Zeiger Dear Kidlit Community,Unfortunately, Writers’ Rumpus was not able to air this post earlier in the month for logistical reasons. For this, I would personally like to apologize to the Jewish Kidlit community, as I would have liked to have seen both AAPHI and JAHM honored together. There have been many community discussions highlighting the lack of JAHM recognition and awareness…

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INTERVIEW WITH DEBUT PICTURE BOOK AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR MARIE BOYD

Picture book illustrations are almost limitless when it comes to the materials and techniques used to make them. It’s part of what makes them so much fun. Do you have a favorite material or medium for picture book art? Mine is cut paper, hands down. I love its crafty, textured quality, and the bold colors and lines that come along with it. So when I learned about paper quilling artist Marie Boyd…

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MG Book Talk with Jessica Brody, talented (and prolific!!!) author of AMELIA GRAY IS ALMOST OKAY

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Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

Contributors who post on WritersRumpus.com have been honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, illustrators, and cultures since way back in 2014! This openness certainly includes the other categories of diverse books, but the focus this month is on AAPI books. Grace Lin made a startling statement about one of her books the other day, which I will get to, but first let’s look at some…

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Meet Author/Illustrator Berrie Torgan-Randall!

Hi, Writers’ Rumpus fans! It’s my pleasure to welcome Berrie Torgan-Randall to our blog today. She not only wrote the words to her debut graphic novel for early readers, but she also created all the illustrations. This first book in a new series for children 5-9 years old was released by Blue Bronco Books, an imprint of The Little Press, on October 1, 2022. The series “celebrates life’s everyday…

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May Picture Book Opportunities

Happy May! Here’s the roundup of online events. To see what’s available all year ’round, and what’s coming up the rest of the year, visit the PICTURE BOOK SUPPORT resource page. Click the links to go directly to each list. MAY EVENTS Challenges, Contests, Mentorships, & Awards Webinars & Conferences Multi-Week Courses REGISTER IN MAY FOR LATER HAPPEN EVERY MONTH For Everyone For…

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Flat Publishing Profits in 2022 Continue into 2023–What Does It Mean for Authors?

Last week, Publisher’s Weekly reported that the first quarter numbers were in for a number of major publishers, and those numbers were underwhelming--but there are some bright spots, too.

Last week, Publisher’s Weekly reported that the first quarter numbers were in for a number of major publishers, and those numbers were . . . underwhelming. Last year, profits were down among most of the big names (those who release their financial data, anyway), with only Simon & Schuster reporting a modest gain over 2021 in both profits and sales. After the most recent numbers pointed to an…

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Celebrate the Book Birthday of FINLEY: A MOOSE ON THE CABOOSE with author Candace Spizzirri!

It’s my great pleasure to interview author Candace Spizzirri on the book birthday of her second picture book, FINLEY: A MOOSE ON THE CABOOSE, brought to us by Gnome Road Publishing. This book is a sheer delight, and so is Candace! Candace: Thank you, Laura, for having me on your blog today! I’m delighted to be here. Laura: I’m so happy to welcome you to Writers’ Rumpus. What was your…

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Interview with Debut Picture Book Author Jennifer Raudenbush...and a Giveaway!

Do you know what I love most about reading picture books to children? I love how they take you on a little journey for the few special minutes you share together. That journey can be light-hearted and humorous, ending in laughter and smiles, or it can be a bit deeper and more thought-provoking. On whatever journey that picture book leads the both of you (or group of you), you get to experience it…

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MEET THE TALENTED #KIDLIT AUTHOR, ERIN DEALEY

CAROL GORDON EKSTER: I met Erin Dealey on a Zoom Nerdcamp panel and was impressed with her professionalism, books, and interest in reaching out to others for her blog. I knew I wanted to interview her on Writers’ Rumpus and introduce you all to this talented #kidlit author. Hi, Erin! You are one of the few people, besides me, who mentions in your website that you never really wanted to write.…

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World of Books: A Profile of Shaun Tan

Shaun Tan was not always an author-illustrator. As a boy, he wanted to be an astronaut. By his teens, his goal was to be a genetic engineer. Since he is of small stature, he was often the target of bullies, but he would disarm them with stories. And while his half-Chinese heritage might have led to being picked on, he discovered that his amazing drawing ability turned potential detractors into…

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MY DOG IS NOT A SCIENTIST – Review & Interview with author Betsy Ellor

Today on Writers’ Rumpus we’re talking with Betsy Ellor, author of MY DOG IS NOT A SCIENTIST, illustrated by Luisa Vera, available April 18 from Yeehoo Press. When I saw the title of Betsy Ellor’s debut picture book, MY DOG IS NOT A SCIENTIST, I laughed out loud! Then I crossed my fingers and hoped. Would this book have the humor, heart, and focus on science processes that the title promised? We…

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APRIL Middle Grade and Young Adult Opportunities

Welcome to the MG/YA Opportunities post! Find all of the monthly opportunities on the MG/YA support page! All opportunities are available to anyone with an internet connection. Does your local writing organization, SCBWI region, etc. host virtual events that are available to anyone with an internet connection? Would you like them listed here?  Please share the info in the comments, or use our…

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The Making of a Picture Book and the Convergence of Author and Illustrator Visions in A GOOD DEED CAN GROW by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman and Holly Hatam

Danna Zeiger: As a pre-published picture book (and other kidlit) writer, the end process of how picture book text becomes enriched with an accompanying visual story in illustrations is still somewhat of a mystery! Of course, I know what I envision when I’m writing my text, but I also know that author’s visions seldom come to fruition as many brilliant minds come together to create a book. I had…

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